Halliday To Contest Autosport International Karting Challenge

Liz Halliday will make her Autosport International Karting Challenge debut later this week (Friday 10 January) as part of the only all-female team to contest 2014’s event. Halliday, the most successful female driver in American Le Mans Series history, is a regular visitor to the Autosport International Show thanks to her British Women Racing Drivers Club (BWRDC) commitments but has never taken part in the three-hour endurance race, which is held annually at the NEC in Birmingham.

Five of Britain’s fastest ladies will line up alongside Liz in a team that features Alice Powell, Zoe Wenham, Jamie Chadwick, Tiffany Chittenden and Louise Richardson.

A total of 25 entries will vie for the Dan Wheldon Karting Trophy in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society, a cause close to Liz’s heart.

“This will be my first time contesting the Autosport event, and when I was told money raised would benefit the Alzheimer’s Society it wasn’t something I could turn down,” confirmed Liz. “My late father, Don Halliday, who was a great racing driver in his time, sadly suffered with the disease for many years, so I have first-hand experience of its debilitating effects. Yes, the race will be a bit of fun for everyone involved but, for me at least, it will have an added dimension.”

As well as contesting this year’s race, Halliday will also be appearing on the BWRDC stand during Saturday morning’s Gold Stars award ceremony, which recognises the club’s outstanding young talent.

“This will be my sixth year as a Gold Stars mentor and during that time the club has gone from strength to strength,” added Liz. “It’s great to see so many talented women drivers competing well and getting recognised, and that’s something we’re hoping to prove a bit more during Friday’s kart race.”

Any members of the public wishing to take part can still reserve their places by contacting Baz Scott: 07971017737.

For more information about the event follow @DWKartingTrophy on Twitter and like www.facebook.com/DanWheldonKartingTrophy. You can donate to the Alzheimer’s Society by visiting www.justgiving.com/dan-wheldon.

Liz is supporting pioneering medical charity Spinal Research throughout the 2014 season. For more information please visit www.spinal-research.org or contact Isabel Long on 01483 898786 / isabel@spinal-research.org.